Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Academic Practice Accelerator · 2026-10-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The line graph shows the number of first time visitors and returning visitors who visited Caryl Island from 2000 to 2008.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graph shows the number of first time visitors and returning visitors who visited Caryl Island from 2000 to 2008.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The visitors of Caryl Island was measured between the years of 2000 to 2008. They were divided into two main groups; those who were first time visitors, and those who were returning visitors.

In the year of 2000 the number of first time visitors is significantly higher than the number of returning visitors with a difference of approximately 5000 people. In 2001 the numbers of both groups changed a lot. The number of first time visitors and the number of returning visitors is equal, this is the one and only time this happened.

The number of the first time visitors dropped from 8000 people in year 2000 to 4000 people in year 2002, which is a 50% decrease. From the year 2001 this number is increasing steadily with about 2000 people each year to 2008.

On the other hand, the number of returning visitors increased a lot from 2000 to 2002 with 7000 people. This is a big difference from the number of first time visitors. After this and until year 2006, the number of returning visitors also increased steadily.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify both visitor groups and report several relevant movements, including the fall in first-time visitors from 8,000 to 4,000 and the rise in returning visitors to 12,000 by 2004. However, the account only partially covers the graph: it stops before describing the 2008 figures and does not give a clear overview of the main pattern, such as returning visitors peaking in 2006 while first-time visitors recover and finish higher than at the start. There are also important inaccuracies: the graph has data only for 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, so the claims about equality in 2001 and steady annual increases are unsupported. The opening comparison is reversed: first-time visitors exceed returning visitors in 2000 by about 5,000, but this is not stated clearly in the sentence. Select the key stages and report them accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally coherent arrangement: it introduces the two groups, then discusses first-time visitors and returning visitors in separate paragraphs. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand” help signal a change of focus, and the sequence from early to later years is mostly easy to follow. However, the progression is weakened by the unsupported reference to 2001 and by ending without a concluding overview of the final trends. Some connections are also mechanical, particularly repeated openings such as “The number of…” and “From the year…”. Use a concise overview after the introduction, then organise the details around the main turning points, ensuring that each time reference corresponds to a year shown on the graph.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing a line graph, including “dropped,” “increased,” “difference,” and “decrease,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are attempts to vary description with phrases such as “significantly higher” and “increased steadily.” However, some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “changed a lot” and “increased a lot” are informal and vague, while “with about 2000 people each year” does not accurately describe the two-year intervals shown. “The visitors … was measured” is also an awkward collocation; visitor numbers are usually described as being recorded or shown. Aim for precise trend language and use “approximately” with figures where appropriate, rather than relying on general intensifiers.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “those who were first time visitors” and a comparison with “from … to …”. Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “The visitors … was measured” has subject–verb disagreement, and “the number … is significantly higher” shifts into the present tense when describing past data. In “the number … and the number … is equal,” the compound subject requires a plural verb; the sentence also refers to a year not shown. Articles and prepositions are sometimes awkward, as in “in year 2000” and “from the years of 2000 to 2008.” Keep past-tense reporting consistent and check agreement, articles and prepositions when editing.

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